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SOCAL'S OKTOBERFEST RICHES: Fall's stein-lift-iest, pretzel-tastiest party comes in many varieties around Southern California. There are the parties that start waaaay back at the beginning of September. There are those that include such offbeat extras as Dachshund races -- hi, Old World in Huntington Beach -- and then you have the mountain shindigs, like Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. A good number of the region's Oktoberfest celebrations happen each weekend, with a few extending into the week, but one-off, one-day-only, get-your-chicken-dance-in-now gatherings are plentiful, too. A large one is oompahing at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, Oct. 12.

PRETZELS TO THE CORN TOSS: There shall be authentic touches, from sausages to over-sized pretzels to corn-tossery to the stein contest, a competition that always seems to delight the crowd even as it makes the stein-holders break a serious brow sweat. Other Oktoberfestian haps'll be afoot, and you have the grand setting of the track, too. Admission starts at $5.